But the MPs say that in terms of long-term impact, investing in education will reap dividends in preventing conflict, improving life chances and improving economic development.

Mr Twigg says: "Education has been shamefully neglected by the international community and many national governments."

Image copyrightUnicefImage caption
Unicef has warned of young people in Chad being forced out of school by Boko Haram violence

The committee heard that there had been a "clear decline in international aid spending on education since 2011".

"Even though we know the benefits of education, there is not enough funding from the international community to deliver this, particularly in the low-income countries which need most support," said Mr Twigg.

Former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, told the committee that such development funding suffered from being "short-term and unpredictable".

"We cannot forever continue with this situation where the only way we fund humanitarian aid, whether it be for education, health, shelter or food, is through a begging bowl," said Mr Brown.